Container for cigarette packages



May 31, 1932. F. w. voN MEISTER CCNTAINER FOR CTGARETTE PACKAGES Filed March 25. 1931 Illlllllllllllllllllllll"HHH- .9 f

INVENTOR d 75a, am y BY Wwf@ ATTORNEYS Y PatentedrMay 31,1932? y EEEDRIGK w. von MEISTER, 'or NEW YORK, N. Y.

' Y CONTAINER Eon cIGAnETTE PACKAGES Q Application' inea March as, 1931. sreria1-N0.`524,4`2o.

The invention 'relatesmto containers, and' more particularlyfto a container for paper wrapped packages; As one important fea-4 turepI provide ka newkand improved vdis- 5" pensing cover, and as another important feature I rovide a new and im oroved mechanism for openingthe paper wrapping of the package. y Y n .A Hitherto, containers have 'been used for holding cigarettes in the originalY packages'. y .l n i i y n v 1Figq3 is asection taken on line 3,-3 of" Fig. 1.

which they are sold, and rfor retainingthe integrity of these packages. n However,'in all of these Containers, it is necessary to remove y the upperend ofthe wrapping before inserting the package inthe containers,"so asto render the cigarettesy accessiblefc'irv removal when the .dispensing cover of they container is opened. The operation kof removing the top portionr ofthe paper packingof the cig-y arettes must be done withmore or less care to insure against injury to the cigarettes and the tearing of this top portion below the ends of thefcigarettes. Y. v One object of thepiesent invention is to provide a .container for" cigarette packages,

said` container having a dispensing cover which is slidable to permit the insertionvof a new package or the withdrawalof 1an. old

one." The c'iitting'means which isadapted to Se" cut the top portion of the lpackagel wrapper may be, and preferably is, carried by said dise pensing cover-,so that itis operated whenL they cover is returned to closing position.

Another obgect of the present invention is y to provide a slidable dispensing cover' hav-y Y ing an auxiliary closure member` which 'slidably moves therewith, and which is movable j vindependently of said slidable cover to permit cigarettes.

-ent invention, the dispensing cover of the package r,container can be slidV to eizposethev p top thereof for the insertion of a.Y fresh packv age, and slid into positionto cover saidpack age. The sameoperation of sliding the disy pensing cover intoclosing position simultaneoiisly effects thecutting of the top portion of Y the opening thereof for the Yremovfal of the yBy means ofthe construction of the pi'es- In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for purposes of illustratiomone form of device embodying the present invention, in

, Fig. 1 is a perspective of a package con- 55 tainer embodying my invention, thek cover beingopen for the admission of a package. y Fig. 2, is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 but on'a larger scale,the closure being.'

partly shut. to

'section taken. online l-4 l of vention, thereis provided -a 'packagey con- 75 tainer-which may have 'solid walls 'toentirely enclose vthe usual sizeof standard cigarette l package having A, ay flexible wrapper.V However, 'this container is'preferabIy of skeleton character, and comprises upright@ framebais 10k connected at the top by tivo pairs of frame bars 11 and 12, and at the f bottom by twocorresponding pairs ofv frame barsy 13 and 14. The upright bars`r 1-1`are` 'angledto engage the vertical corners ofa`e5 .package A, andthe bottom bars'l and 14 angled to engage the bottom corners of the package, and to provide a seat for said pack-Q age. lThese bars 13 and 14 conjointly define a bottomv openingl by means of which the cigarettes in the package kmay bepushed up beyond the toped'ge of the package, so that these cigarettes may be easily withdrawn.; f

In order to snugly retain the cigarette package in the container, a side pair of frame bars 10 are provided with spring members which inthespecificlform shown comprise spring bars'l having the upper ends thereof y riveted oit-otherwise connected to said bars, and the lowerL vends-free and unattached."y y100 ifrlcit f thereto.

The intermediate portions of these spring bars 16 are curved inwardly to Contact with one side ofthe cigarette package, and to urge said package against the opposite side of the frame structure. The bottom frame bars 13 may be similarly provided with spring bars 17 for urging the cigarette package towards the closure end of the container.

One important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cover which is slidable to expose the toptof the package, whereby an old package can be withdrawn, and a new package inserted in place, and which is provided with an auxiliary hinged closure member or lid which` can be opened independently of. said slidable cover to permit Withdrawal of the cigarettes. frame hars 11 are shown as having flanges 18 extending outwardly therefrom and serving kas guides for the sliding movement of a dispensing cover member 19. This cover member 19 rcomprises a frame structure con-` sisting of front and rear frame members 21,

yand side frame members 22 and 23. The

frame members 21 are provided with down.-y wardly extending flanges 24 which are offset so as to receive and enclose the flanges 18. The cover member 19 has an opening in which is disposed an auxiliary closure member or lid 25 connected to the side frame member 23 by means of a suitable hinge 25a preferably associated with a spring so as to be normally urged to open container. i v

f In order to latch the lid 25 in closed position with respect to the slidable cover 19,

the outer end of said lid is advantageouslyprovided with a downwardly extending fiange 26 having an opening 27 which receives a projection formed ,inaflange 28 depending from the frame member 22. To permit this angeQ to pass beyond the frame structure of the container when the cover 19Yis moved intoclosure position, the frame bar 12 nearest to said flangeA is provided witha slotv 29 which is large enough to permit a passage of said flange.

For releasing the latch whichholds the auxiliaryy closure member 25 in closed posiey tion, the flange26 has a portion extending below the flange 28 and'engaging one end of a push pin 39 projecting through a hole in` a flange 30 dependingl from the frame member 22. This push pin 29 is provided with a `shoulder 31 which abuts the inside of the flange 30, and is urged into contact with said flange by means of a leaf springr 32 connected The flange 30 extendsdownwardly a sufiicient distance to abut the frame bar 12 nearest thereto, thereby limiting the closed position of they cover 19. -r

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means whereby the top portion of the cigarette package' cut while ,the slidable closure member is returned into closing position.

The top I position with respect to the members opposite to said spring bars.

For that'purpose, the to frame members 11 are provided with a kni e 34 mounted in slots 33 of the frame, and connected to the flanges 24 of the the cover member 19 is slid into closing position. This knife 34 extends below the frame member 23 and is protected thereby against injury to its cutting edge. The frame meinber. 23 extends beyond the cutting edge so as to prevent the cutting edge from abutting the container at the end of its cutting stroke. The slots 33 and the knife 34 also serve to prevent the detachment of the slidable cover member'19 from the container- Means are provided whereby the slidahle cover member 19 may be retained in positionA while closing relationship with theV container.r For this purpose, the frame meinber 23 is equipped with a downwardly extending proJection 36 which engages a corresponding indentation or groove 37 in the top frame members 11 while in closing position. y n

In the operation of the device, the cover member 19 is slid to open the top of the container and the cigarette package is inserted in place. The spring bars 16 insure the snug engagement of the package in the container, and also servel to move one side of the package into abutting'enga'gementwith the frame In this way, the package is held against lateral movement while being subjected to the cutti action of the knife.

he bottom springs 17 serve to urge the package upwardly so as to insure the projection of the top portion of the package wrapper. above the cutting edge of the knife 34. The portion of the member 23 projecting beyond the knife 34 travels ahead of said knife during the cutting operation, and serves as a guard against cutting more than a predetermined amount of the wrapping or just the top thickness of the wrapper. The cut portion of thewrappermay be retainedover the exposed end of the cigarettes so as to protectthem against drying.

After the cigarette package has been inserted inthe container, and the slidable closure member slid into closing position, it is then not necessary to' slide this closure melnber to open position in order to withdraw the cigarettes. The cigarettes can then be made accessible merely by pushing the push pin 39, which causes the lid 25 to automatically swing into open position. This auxiliary closure member 25 maybe large enough to substantially cover the entire opening ofthe container, or may be just large enoughto expose a sufficient portion of the top of the package to permitthe withdrawal of a cigarette. i f

Having thus described my invention, what lado I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters i Patent is f l. A container for cigarettepackages, comprisingY a frame structurek conforming gen# erally to the shape and size of a package and adapted to receive the entire package, a slidable cover member for the top of the container and of substantially the saine size as the package to permit Ythe insertion of a package intosnugr relationship with the in- 2. A container for cigarette ackave coin-l risino a frame structure conforinino cenerb 2:) ,23

ally to the shape and size of thel package and adapted to receive the entire package and Yhold it in xed position with respect thereto,

a cover inemberextending over the top of the container, of substantially the same size thereof, and slidable therealong to permit the insertion of a package into snug relationship with the interior of saidV container, and a cut-- ting knifercarried by said slidable covermeinyber and adapted to cut the topportion of the edge of said knife',

cigarette package when said cover member is slid into'closure relationship with said container, said frame structure being provided with a pair of 'slots extending in the `direction of slidable movement of said covermen'iber and adapted to receive the knife and serve as a guide therefor.

3. A container for cigarette packages, cornprising a .frame structure conforming'generally to the shape and size ofthe package and adapted to receive the entire package and hold it in position with respect thereto, spring means connected Vto said frame structure for urging the package into abutting relationship vwith one sideof said frame structure, acover member extending over the Vtop of the package, yoi substantially ,f ie same size thereof, and slidable therealong to permit the insertion. offa package into snag relationship with the interior of said container` saidcover member being slidable in a direction towardsV and away from the portion of the frame structure againstfwhicli the cigarette package abuts under the action saidA sp. io

means, and a cutting knife carried hy'said vslidable cover member andadapted to cut thel top portion of the cigarette package while said cover member is slidinginto closing relationship with said container. j e

' 4.1 A container for cigarette packages comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shapeand size of the package container, slidable therealong,

'and` adapted to receive the entire packagek ,andholdit in position with respect thereto,

apairof oppositely facing, outwardly extending flanges connected at the top of the frame structure, a cover member extending over the top of the container and of substantiallyfthe same size thereof, rflanges` connected to said cover member and adapted to eine y brace said first mentionedviiranges to permit slidable movementy of said cover member, and a cutting knifecarried by said slidable cover.

member and adapted to cut the top portion c of the cigarette package when said cover member is slid 'into closure relationship with said container, said frame structure being provided with` a pair of slots extending in substantially the same direction as the first mentioned flanges and adapted to receive theend portion of said knife whereby said cuttingrknife is guided along said slot andl said cover member isprevented from being detached from thefiame structure.

yFLAV container for cigarette packages, comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shape andv size of the package and adapted to receive the entire package, a

Yutting knife slidable vtransversely of ther o container and adapted to cut off the top porvtion of the cigarette package, said cutting knife extending entirely across the top of the container and spaced below t ie top thereof, and a cover member slidable with the knife and extending forward of the cutting n whereby said knife 'is protected from damage. i

Q6. A container for cigarette packages,

Vcomprising aframe structure `conforming` Y generally Vto the: shape and size of the pack-- age and adapted to receive the entire pack-` age and. hold itin position with respect thereto, a cover member extending from the top of the container, slidabler therealong,

and of substantially the same size thereof,

and a cutting knife carried bysaid slidable cover member and adapted to cut the top portion of the cigarettepackage when said cover member is slid into yclosing relationship with said container, said cutting knife extending iio entirely across thetop of the ucontainer and'A spaced below said cover member, said coverr member having the end transverse tol its di rection of moveinentexten'ding forward of y the cutting edge of said knife,`wheieby saidl knife is protected from; damage-- 27V A containery for cigarette packages,

comprising a frame structure Conforming generally to ythe sha-pesanti size ofthe package" and adapted to receive the entirel package, a covermemberextending over the top of the and of substantially the samersize thereof, 'a` cutting knifecarried by said slidable cover member and adapted to cut the top portion ofthe cigarette package when said cover member is slid into closure relationship with said cony tailler', said knife being spaced below said cover member, said cover member having the edge transverse to its direction of movement extending beyond the cutting edge of said knife, whereby said knife is protected against injury, and spring means connected to the bottom of the frame structure for urging said package so that the top portion thereof Will abiit the portion of the cover member extend- '.ing beyond the cutting knife, whereby the thickness of the Wrapping cut by said knife is predetermined. y

8. A container for cigarette packages, comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shape and size of the package and adapted to receive the entire package, a cover member extending over the top of the container, slidable therealong, and of substantially the same size thereof, and` a cutting V' knife carried by said slidablc cover member and adapted to cnt the top portion of the cigarette package when said cover member is slid into closure relationship with said container.

25 9. A container for cigarette packages, comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shape and size of a package and adapted to receive the entire package and hold itin position with respect thereto, a

n cover member extending over the top of the container, of substantially the same size thereof, and slidable therealong to permit the insertion of a fresh package into snug I relationship with the interior of said conf tainer, and a knife carried by said slidable cover and adapted to cnt the top portion of vthe cigarette package while said closure member is sliding into closing relationship with said container.

A 10. A y container for cigarette packages, comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shape and size of a package and adapted to receive the entire package, a slidable cover member for the top of the container and of substantially the same size as the package to permit the insertion of a package into snug relationship with the interior of said container, and a knife carried by said cover to cnt off the top of the package.

3:) 11. A container for cigarette packages, comprising a frame structure conforming generally to the shape and size of a package and adapted to receive the entire package, a slidable cover member for the top of the con- .351 tainer and of substantially the same size as the package to permit the insertion of a package into snug relationship with the interior of said container, a vknife carried by said cover to cuto the top of the package, and a vno lidcarried by said cover member.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 19th day of March, A. D. 1931.

- FREDRICK W. YON MEISTER. 

